Board game:Monopoli

Editrice Giochica. 1950

The Strong National Museum of Play

The Italian licensee for Parker Brothers' game Monopoly secured a unique deal from the very start in the 1930s. Editrice Giochi published a very early game "Monopoli" under the (then) authority of Benito Mussolini's cabinet. That game actually made reference to the Fascist regime through certain property names on the board. After the war, the publisher designed a new board but still maintained its unique rights, apart from the Parker license for most of the rest of Europe. The property groups referred to streets in Milan, as well as other features such as mountains, Italian artists, and Italian explorers. A player could purchase, for instance, Via Marco Polo and Via Magellano as two of the red properties. Players passing Via! (Go) collect 20,000 lire. Editrice Giochi produced consistently high quality game components and playing pieces. This example was made around 1950. Around 2006, with the Hasbro takeover of Parker Brothers, Editrice Giochi ceased publication of Monopoli.